MIND NOT IN MATTER

ANNIE M. KNOTT

FOR many years there has been a wide difference of opinion in the medical profession, as to the value to mankind of experiments on the lower animals, and many protests against these experiments have been made by thoughtful people on humanitarian grounds. At a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, recently held in New York City, a paper was read in which certain of these experiments were described. The doctor who read this paper stated that he had placed a small creature "in a covered box, from the center of which a maze led to escape and food." After the animal had learned how to make its escape through this winding path, the experimenter removed the creature's eyes, but it still found its way. The other physical senses were then treated in a similar manner, yet the maimed thing found its way out of its prison; and from this it was inferred that certain animals, if not all, are possessed of a sixth sense.

It is hardly necessary to ask whether mortals have the right to gain knowledge at the cost of suffering to any creature, however humble; the question which most concerns us being whether all necessary knowledge may not be gained in an altogether different way. To this Christian Science unequivocally answers in the affirmative; it declares that all knowledge relative to Life and its infinite manifestations may be gained with scientific accuracy by the understanding of that Life,—the creative Mind. The case cited points unmistakably to a Mind not subject to the limitations of matter or materiality,—the Mind that guides every creature in the degree to which that creature responds to such guidance. Jesus said that not even a sparrow was beneath the Father's notice. This case also verifies the correctness of Mrs. Eddy's conclusions that life does not "exist in the thing formed," and leads us to ponder deeply her statement respecting the "governing, infinite Principle outside of finite form, which forms only reflect" (Science and Health, pp. 70, 71).

Here it may be asked what lesson there is for us as individuals in this teaching. It may be answered that the discovery of this all-wise, all-loving, all-governing Principle, which is never affected by finite sense or its discords but is ever ready to correct them, is the crowning discovery of the ages. It is indeed Immanuel—God with us. This discovery reveals the sense by which mortals are led to find God,—led out of the maze of materiality with its bondage and fear, into spiritual freedom with its health and harmony.

Many times have students of Christian Science rejoiced when they saw some little creature lifted from mortal suffering to health and harmony by the declaration of the same divine law which had healed themselves, thus proving to them anew the universality of divine Principle and the availability of its law. Paul said, "We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." He also said, "The earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God." As the sons of God are manifested in Science they prove their dominion in the demonstration of the law of Life, of Mind,—the law which heals, not hurts, "the whole creation."

In Christian Science we learn to reason from the highest,—the divine governing Principle,—and from this we work on to demonstrate the perfectibility of all God's creation. The prophet who had a glimpse of this truth said that the lion and the lamb should lie down together, that a little child should lead them, and that nothing should "hurt nor destroy" when the earth should "be full of the knowledge of the Lord." Divine Science is speeding the world towards this glad day, in its declaration and demonstration of the one Mind governing all the phenomena of existence; and for this we, like St. Paul, thank God and take courage.

ANNIE M. KNOTT.

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